Mechanisms of State Regulation of Media and the Formation of Political Values in China

Amidst digital transformation, China’s media system demonstrates a high degree of institutionalized control and ideological consolidation. This study addresses the problem of identifying the mechanisms through which Chinese mass media participate in shaping political values and promoting social responsibility. The authors apply structural-functional, discourse analysis and content analysis to examine institutional foundations of Communist Party of China media policy and the narrative content of media materials. The empirical base includes regulatory documents, official media reports, and articles published in the People’s Daily. The results show a dual role of Chinese media: they serve to legitimize the authority of the Communist Party of China while reinforcing ideological and social integration. Through regulatory frameworks, strategic use of digital platforms, and targeted information campaigns, the Chinese media actively promote the concept of a “community of shared future for mankind.” Thus, mass media in China emerge as key instruments within the state governance system and ideological apparatus, fulfilling domestic goals of cohesion and external objectives of constructing a favorable global image of China.